Making The Transition From School To University And Beyond

This time next week, Scottish Highers will have been released and A Level results will be just a few days away. Traditionally the national media will have begun to devote much space to advising parents and students how to react to the joy and disappointment of Results Day.

We will be posting a piece on Clearing and then follow this with a series of articles advising our Sixth Form leavers on how to make the transition from school to university: a) socially, b) academically and c) with regards to advancing their career prospects.

With the right approach, there is no need for the transition to be anything other than straightforward. Sisters Bethany and Erin Hushon, who left Bablake in 2010 and 2013 respectively, are excellent examples of former pupils who have successfully made the transition. Heavily involved in school life and confident socially, it is no surprise to report they have both continued a breathlessly hectic programme at university.

Both were school prefects and excellent sportswomen at Bablake. Bethany was 1^st VII netball captain, editor of the Food issue of Stretch (our award-winning student magazine), Sportswoman of the Year for 2010 and sports prefect for Wheatley house. Erin was 1^st VII vice-captain, a reporter on the Art and Design issue of Stretch, a talented artist and designer, and coached our younger netballers voluntarily.

Full of initiative at school, both have continued to stand out at university. Erin recognises that going to university can be quite daunting but reminds prospective students that everyone feels the same way, so settling is somehow easier through this shared experience.

Erin already has an impressive CV to accompany her Fashion Communication and Promotion degree at Nottingham Trent University. An exciting web design intern placement at Nelly.com in Borås (Sweden), acting as a runner at London Fashion Week for Pop PR, part-time employment at River Island, and, most recently, work as a fashion intern at Look magazine, where she helped style models for photoshoots, have all given Erin the chance to help confirm her future career direction, expand her network and prove her enthusiasm and drive to future employers.

Bethany was similarly involved with every aspect of university life. Graduating this summer with an excellent 1^st in Sport Business Management from Leeds Beckett University (formerly Leeds Metropolitan), she has immediately landed a job in sponsorships and partnerships at a premier league football club. An Olympics volunteer, student ambassador and treasurer of the Netball Society amongst many other roles, Bethany was awarded the 2015 Sports Volunteer of the Year, as well as the Dean’s prize for her academic work.

Erin seems well on the way to achieving her goals just as Bethany has, and it is superb to be able to highlight two more excellent Bablake pupils finding their direction, working hard for their futures and enjoying every minute of their journey.

Footnote!

• If any former pupil wishes to email advice re the successful transition to university that Bablake's Careers department may add to its articles, please click here.
• A final reminder! Articles on the transition socially, academically et al will begin a week today and have excellent advice direct from former Bablake pupils who are currently undergraduates or have graduated.

(Photograph of Bethany by Abhimanyu Bose.)